The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-26
The Enumeration ouestion-


The question of restricting immigration
from Europe, or stopping it altogether, is
bound to attract wide attention in the near
future 1t is already being discussed quite
extensively. There are some who favor
levying tax upon immigrants, and others
who advocate admitting only those who
have well filed purses The discussion of
the subject and the expressions of opinion
with regard to it indicate a growing oppo-
sltion to immigrants and an increasing de-
sire to accept only those who give promise
OF becoming good citizens and of quickly
adapting themselves to the customs of the
country.
T There are several reasons for the growing
hostility to immigrants One is that there is
a disposition on the part of the governments
OF Europe to make the United States the
dumping ground for their paupers Only
few days ago paupers were sent back to
England from both New York and Phila-
delphia- They were without any means of
support, and the expenses of their passage
had been paid by the English government.
Another reason is the increasing number
of Socialists and Anarchists who, driven
from their native lands because of their re-
fusal to respect the laws, come to this coun-
try not with the purpose of being good citi-
zens and making homes for themselves and
their families, but to excite strife and dis
sensions. 1t used to be said that Anarchists
could do no harm here, because the people
were so contented with their surroundings
and their prospects of getting ahead in the
world that they would not listen to them.
1t is admitted now, however, that these
agitators are dangerous to society, and that
they will cause great trouble in the near
future if they are not dealt with promptly
and firmly.
There are still other reasons, but the two
given are sufficient to show that the grow
ing hostility to immigrants has quite solid
foundation. The question which presents
itself in this connection, however, is this:
Ought immigration to be stopped, or to any
great extent restricted, because there are
objectionable immigrants? 1t is true we
don't want the paupers and the anarchists,
and would be glad if other kinds who do not
appear TO be able to rise above the condition
they occupied in Europe could be prevented
from coming, but we do want the thrifty
and intelligent people, who will help
to increase the greatness and prosperity
of the country. Immigrants have con-
tributed largely to making the nation what
it is. They are producers as well as CON
sumers, and they produce a great deal more
than they consume. They become thor
oughly Americanized and take more pride
in their adopted than in their native land.
The belief entertained by some that the
country will soon all be occupied, and that
native Americans will be crowded by immi-
grants, has little foundation There is
room for hundreds of millions of
people, and the time when the
United States will have all the population
they can sustain is very far in the future.
Wealth is greatest in the States which are
most thickly populated There are a good
many of the States which would gladly
welcome thrifty immigrants. This State,
for instance, could sustain easily several
times its present population, and the aver
age material condition of the people would
be better than it is now
While it might be wise to place certain
restrictions upon immigration it would be
mistake to check it. 1t is probable that
there would not be great deal of opposi-
ton to the enactment of laws against OBJ
jectionable immigration but there would
be to laws shutting out all immigrants